Microsoft Pinball Arcade is a pinball simulation game developed and published by Microsoft for Windows 95/98 and NT 4.0. Released in 2000, it features seven faithfully reproduced tables spanning the 1930s to the 1990s, each representing a different decade. The collection includes historically significant machines such as Baffle Ball (the first modern pinball machine), Humpty Dumpty (the first with flippers), and Haunted House (noted for its innovative multi-level design), along with others like Spirit of '76 and Cue Ball Wizard. The game was created with input from pinball historians Dick Bueschel and Russ Jensen, and all sounds were directly sampled from the original machines. It also includes a brief history of pinball and a trivia quiz. While praised for its accurate physics and authentic audio, the simulation is limited to Gottlieb-licensed tables, omitting many beloved Bally and Williams titles, and lacks the operator adjustments found on real machines.
Screenshots
In the News
Aug 72026
Quake turns 30 and gets 19 new levels for free
MachineGames has shipped Dawn of the Machine, a free 19-map episode for Quake's 30th, with new enemies, new weapons and persistent upgrades.
ReleaseAug 62026
Microsoft reportedly plans to bring Xbox 360 games to PC
A leaked document reportedly details Microsoft's plan to let developers sell Xbox 360 games on PC, with a gradual rollout between 2027 and 2028.
PreservationJul 282026
Three Weeks After Xbox Let It Go, Double Fine Laid Off 23 People
Double Fine has cut 23 of about 90 staff to survive as an independent studio, three weeks after Microsoft spun it out of Xbox with its IP and catalogue intact.
IndustryHow to Play TodayYour options for running this game in 2026
Original Hardware
Available on CD-ROM. Needs a Windows 95/98 or NT 4.0 PC with a Pentium 90, 16 MB RAM, 2 MB DirectX video, and a CD-ROM drive. Autorun installs quickly.
Emulation / Other Options
Runs natively on supported Windows versions; no emulation required.